China’s warships and aircrafts encircle Taiwan in massive military drill

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) deployed warships and fighter jets on Saturday to encircle Taiwan that put forward a show of military. which is a response to the Taiwanese President’s meeting with the US House speaker, Kevin Mcarthy that happened this week.

Around 8 Chinese warships and 42 fighter jets were detected around the island along with it the Taiwanese defense ministry stated that 29 jets crossed into Taiwan’s Southwestern air defense identification zone (ADIZ) which is the highest number in a single day this year. The PLA deployed long-range rocket, artillery destroyers, frigates, missile boats, fighters, bombers, electronic warfare aircraft, aerial tankers and conventional missiles.

The military drill that is going to happen from April 8 to 10 is expected to be the largest PLA military exercise since August 2022. 

The exercise is been stated as “a stern warning to Taiwan independence’ secessionist forces and their collusion with external forces”, Shi Yi stated it is a “necessary move to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity”. The military exercise began on Saturday a day after Tsai returned to Taiwan after her visit to the Central American countries of Belize and Guatemala and in the US.

China addressed Taiwan as a breakaway region and resents official interaction between the island and a third country, terming it as an affront and interference in the internal affairs.

China’s Maritime Safety Administration of eastern China’s Fujian province issued a warning according to a tabloid that a live-fire shooting exercise will be held on Monday. It will take place in an area off the shores of Pingtan which is 130km from Taiwan. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council called China to “exercise self-restraint.”  “Taiwan will not back down or succumb, and we will not provoke or act rashly,” it added.